DeadPixelTest.pro

Monitor Dead Pixel Test

Click Full Screenand inspect each solid color for dots that don't change. Works on all desktop monitor types — IPS, VA, TN, and OLED.

Press F11 for best results on desktop

How Monitor Dead Pixel Testing Differs from Phone Testing

A 27-inch monitor contains roughly 8 million pixels at 1440p — about four times more than a typical smartphone display. More pixels means a statistically higher chance of encountering one defect, but it also means a single stuck pixel is a much smaller fraction of the screen. Most people never notice one unless it sits near the center.

Viewing distance matters too. You sit 50–80 cm from a monitor and 20–30 cm from a phone, so the same physical pixel size looks smaller on a monitor. Use the Full Screen button above and test with the room lights off — dim lighting makes dim stuck pixels much easier to spot against black and dark backgrounds.

For a complete monitor health check beyond dead pixels — including backlight uniformity, gradient banding, ghosting, and response time — MonitorTest Pro runs a full 20-test suite designed specifically for desktop displays.

IPS, VA, TN, and OLED — How Panel Type Affects Dead Pixels

PanelDead pixel appearanceCommon gotcha
IPSBlack dot on white; may have slight haloIPS glow in corners is not a dead pixel
VABlack on white; invisible on pure blackDeep blacks hide dim stuck pixels — test on white
TNBlack or fixed bright color dotColor shift at angles — test straight-on
OLEDPerfectly black dot on all colorsBurn-in is different from dead pixels — it fades over time

The black and white test colors are your primary tools on any panel. White reveals dark dead pixels; black reveals bright stuck pixels. Red, green, and blue expose sub-pixel faults that the white test can miss — a pixel stuck on one sub-pixel looks slightly off-color rather than fully dark.

The ISO 13406-2 Dead Pixel Standard

ISO 13406-2 (now superseded by ISO 9241-307) classifies monitors into pixel-defect classes. Most consumer monitors sold today are Class II, which technically permits up to two fully-lit pixels, two fully-dark pixels, and five partially-defective sub-pixels per million pixels. On a 4K (8.3 MP) panel that works out to roughly 16 allowed defects — which is why manufacturers don't automatically replace for a single dead pixel.

ClassBright defects / M pxDark defects / M pxTypical use
Class I00Medical / pro displays
Class II22Consumer monitors (most common)
Class III515Budget / commercial displays
Class IV50150Industrial / outdoor panels

Even under Class II, a dead pixel in the center of your screen significantly impacts usability. See our dead pixel warranty guide for how to leverage brand-specific replacement policies regardless of the ISO class your monitor carries.

Lines of Dead Pixels on Your Monitor

A full horizontal or vertical line of dead or stuck pixels is a different problem from an isolated dot. Lines typically indicate a failed row or column driver — a hardware fault in the panel's control circuitry rather than an individual pixel cell. Rapid color cycling (our stuck pixel fix tool) will not repair a driver failure.

A dead pixel line almost always qualifies as a manufacturing defect and should be covered under warranty regardless of the brand's normal dead pixel threshold. Document it with photos and contact the manufacturer's support immediately — most brands have a shorter window for reporting defects on delivery.

Dead Pixels by Monitor Brand

Pixel defect policies vary significantly between manufacturers. Dell and Alienware offer the most generous coverage (Premium Panel Guarantee — zero bright pixels). ASUS ROG, LG UltraGear, AOC, and Gigabyte follow standard Class II policies with a 3–5 pixel threshold. We maintain brand-specific pages with current warranty details:

DellSamsungLGASUSHP

Monitor Dead Pixel FAQ

What does a dead pixel look like on a monitor?+
A dead pixel appears as a single dot that stays the same color regardless of what is on screen. On a white background it looks black or colored; on a black background a bright stuck pixel glows red, green, or blue. Dead pixels never change — stuck pixels do.
How many dead pixels is normal for a monitor?+
Zero is ideal, but ISO 13406-2 Class II — the standard most consumer monitors meet — permits a small number of pixel defects per million pixels. In practice, most brands only replace a monitor if it has five or more dead pixels, or even one if it sits in the center of the screen.
Can I return a monitor for one dead pixel?+
It depends on the manufacturer. Dell's Premium Panel Guarantee replaces for even one dead pixel within the first year. ASUS, LG, and most others require three to five before covering it under standard warranty. See our dead pixel warranty guide for brand-specific policies.
What is IPS glow, and how do I tell it apart from dead pixels?+
IPS glow is a milky brightening in the corners of IPS monitors when displaying dark content. It shifts when you move your head and disappears on bright backgrounds. Dead pixels are fixed points that look identical regardless of content or viewing angle.
Can a line of dead pixels on my monitor be fixed?+
A full row or column of dead pixels almost always indicates a failed row or column driver in the panel itself — not a stuck pixel. Rapid color cycling will not fix it. This type of defect is typically covered by warranty.
Does monitor panel type affect how dead pixels look?+
Yes. On VA panels, dead pixels are harder to spot on dark content due to deeper blacks but obvious on white. On OLED monitors they appear perfectly black on all content. On IPS and TN panels, dead pixels usually show as black or a fixed off-color dot.

Found a stuck pixel?

Try our rapid-cycling fix tool — works on most stuck pixels within 20 minutes.

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